Where does “pilak” come from?

pilak (Sabah Malay) comes from Tausug pilak, from Malay Perak, from Malay pirak, from Proto-Malayic pirak.

pilak (Sabah Malay): illegal immigrant, undocumented immigrant (especially from Sulu Archipelago and other parts of the Philippines frequently hiding from the Malaysian authorities for deportation and also making social troubles in Sabah, Malaysia)

Definitions

  1. illegal immigrant, undocumented immigrant (especially from Sulu Archipelago and other parts of the Philippines frequently hiding from the Malaysian authorities for deportation and also making social troubles in Sabah, Malaysia)

Ancestry of “pilak”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tausugpilaksilver
2MalayPeraksilver metal
3MalaypirakObsolete form of perak
4Proto-Malayicpirak—
Every word from Proto-Malayic pirak →Every word from Malay pirak →Every word from Malay Perak →